1989 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
277 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
95,373 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 277 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 43 | 15.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 6.5% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 47 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 19 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 17 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 17 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 14 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 7 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 47; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Electrical System:Ignition: 14; Structure:Frame And Members: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 6
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 261 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 86 |
| 1996 | 99 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 86; 1996: 99; 2000: 37; 2001: 20; 2002: 11; 2003: 10; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 4; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 26 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10326978 · 2010-04-22 (April 22, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HE NOTICED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL USING THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN USING THE BRAKES BUT HAD TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PUSHING THE OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 478300 · 1995-01-02 (January 2, 1995)
STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN AFTER TURNING TO THE RIGHT DUE TO CRACKED RACK IN RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008010 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
I HAVE A 1989 FORD TAURUS WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR 1 YEAR AND YESTERDAY WHEN IT WOULDN'T START, IT KEPT CRANKING ON IT'S OWN EVEN AFTER I PULLED THE KEY OUT. IT THEN STATRED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND I HAD TO JUMP OUT AND DISCONECT THE BATTERY! FORD RECALLED EVERY OTHER MODEL FOR 1989 BUT MINE AND THE EXPLORER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT MINE?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164591 · 2006-08-05 (August 5, 2006)
SUNDAY AT 11:45 AM, I LEFT MY HOUSE TO GO TO WORK AT WAL-MART. AT ABOUT 4:30 PM, A CUSTOMER AT WAL-MART CAME IN THE STORE AND TOLD US THAT A CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHO CAR IT WAS. IT WAS MINE. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH. THE WHOLE DASH IS GONE. THE FIRE STARTED BY ELECTRICAL IN THE DASH. I HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WAS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086192 · 2004-08-04 (August 4, 2004)
WE HAVE A 1989 TAURUS W/OD TRANSMISSION THAT SHIFTS HARD AND ROUGH, ALSO THE FRONT AND REAR RATTLES AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THIS ON OUR VEHICLE. THE PAINT IS BLISTERING WITH ORANGE RUST COMING THROUGH, AND THE STEARING (POWER W/TILT) HAS A JERK IN IT. CAN YOU OR WILL YOU HELP ME WITH THESE DEFECTS?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096398 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING MY 1989 FORD TAURUS, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, AND THE CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OTHER CARS, AND ONLY 1 BLOCK FROM HOME, SO WITH BRUTE FORCE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION FOUND THAT BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE SUB FRAME THAT THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED DOWN, SEPERATED FROM MAIN CAR CHASSIS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL, SO I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED RECALL NOTICE 98S36 THAT DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY C…
Owner-reported narrative. 153,389 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489247 · 1995-04-18 (April 18, 1995)
SPARE TIRE EXPLODED TEARING WHEEL WELL COVER/DAMAGING ELECTRICAL WIRING TO FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505000 · 1996-05-27 (May 27, 1996)
VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO SHORT IN STARTER SWITCH. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196769 · 2007-07-18 (July 18, 2007)
THIS WAS ON A 1989 FORD TAURUS L . AFTER REAR BRAKE REPAIRS THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE PROPORTIONING VALVE TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A LEAK AND ALL BRAKING WAS LOST. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THIS BRAKE LINE LIKELY BROKE DUE TO YEARS OF CORROSION FROM ROAD SALTS AND OTHER SOURCES DURING BAD WEATHER. DUE TO SO MUCH POSSIBLE DAMAGE FROM CORROSION I HAVE DECIDED TO JUNK THE CAR. BUT IT WAS LIKELY THAT OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233327 · 2008-07-07 (July 7, 2008)
HAVING TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH TIRE, HEATING, BRAKES, SUSPENSION I CHANGE THIS PARTS LIKE 3 TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10233327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734271 · 2000-10-13 (October 13, 2000)
EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR IT HAS BEEB A MONEY PIT. I BOUGHT IT AN WAS NOT AWRE OF ALL OF THE PROPLEMS THIS MODEL WAS HAVING. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE ELCERTICAL WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I AM DISABLED AND IT COULD HAVE GIVEN ME A HEART ATTACK. I COULD NOT HAVE PUSHED THIS CAR OFF THE ROAD. NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS OR THEIR SENSORS NO ONE HAS BEEN ABVLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CURRENTLY AT MY MECHANICS GARAGE FOR TWO MONTHS HE HAS CALLLED FORD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734271 at NHTSA ↗